Summary

High market values have incentivized extensive fisheries for Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis, see the photo), a species whose longevity, commercial value, and long generation time make it particularly susceptible to overfishing (1, 2). Today, the population of Pacific bluefin tuna stands at an estimated 2.6% of prefished levels (1). Yet, knowledge of its basic life history is incomplete. Recent studies (3, 4) suggest that the fundamental distribution of Pacific bluefin across the North Pacific has been misunderstood. The results underscore the need for basic movement ecology information to assist science-based fisheries management.